Glossary – Dell PowerEdge 1600SC User Manual

Page 26

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Glossary

Dell™ PowerEdge™ 1600SC Systems User's Guide


 

The following list defines or identifies technical terms, abbreviations, and acronyms used in your system documents.

 

A

 

Abbreviation for ampere(s).

 

AC

 

Abbreviation for alternating current.

 

adapter card

 

An expansion card that plugs into an expansion-card connector on the computer's system board. An adapter card adds some specialized function to the

system by providing an interface between the expansion bus and a peripheral device. Examples of adapter cards include network cards, sound cards, and
SCSI adapters.

 

application program

 

Software, such as a spreadsheet or word processor, designed to help you perform a specific task or series of tasks. Application programs run from the

operating system.

 

asset tag number

 

An individual number assigned to a system, usually by a system administrator, for security or tracking purposes.

 

backup

 

A copy of a program or data file. As a precaution, you should back up your system's hard drive on a regular basis. Before making a change to the configuration

of your system, you should back up important start-up files from your operating system.

 

backup battery

 

The backup battery maintains system configuration, date, and time information in a special section of memory when the system is turned off.

 

beep code

 

A diagnostic message in the form of a pattern of beeps from your system's speaker. For example, one beep, followed by a second beep, and then a burst of

three beeps is beep code 1-1-3.

 

BIOS

 

Acronym for basic input/output system. Your system's BIOS contains programs stored on a flash memory chip. The BIOS controls the following:

l

 

Communications between the microprocessor and peripheral devices, such as the keyboard and the video adapter

l

 

Miscellaneous functions, such as system messages

 

bit

 

The smallest unit of information interpreted by your system.

 

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